NYRA to Consider Using Artificial Racing Surfaces

Saratoga Race Course was opened in 1863 in the Saratoga Spring New York area. It was followed by the Aqueduct Racetrack, which was opened in 1894 in Jamaica, Queens, New York. Belmont Park followed with an opening in 1905 in the city of Elmont. The tracks and dates matter because they represent the state of New York's commitment to the tradition of horse racing.

As the NY horse racing industry started growing, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) was created to serve as the NY racing industry's governing body. That happened in 1955. Over the years, NYRA did all it could to protect racing traditions in the state.

Things have certainly changed in recent years. The Internet has cut on-track attendance. Horse and jockey safety concerns have dominated news cycles. Corruption within the industry has caused horseplayers to question who is running horse racing in New York. Against the backdrop of these important issues, NYRA has decided it might be time to look at installing artificial racing surfaces at major NY horse racing venues.

NYRA Forms Committee to Study the Viability of Artificial Racing Surfaces

As concerns over horse fatalities have been rising, so too needs to do something about it. This is what led NYRA to announce on February 14, 2024, that a committee will be formed to study the possible impact of artificial race tracks in New York. The committee will be chaired by NYRA chief executive officer David O’Rourke with participation from other prominent U.S. racing organizations.

The objective of the committee is to create a study on the viability of artificial racing surfaces. With an eye on curtailing horse fatalities and jockey injuries, the study with recommendations will ultimately be given to the Racetrack Safety Committee of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Committee (HISA). That committee has been heavily involved in promoting the use of artificial racing surfaces throughout the U.S.

It's noteworthy that HISA has initiated its own feasibility study. The committee was promoted to do so on the heels of a rash of horse fatalities that occurred at Churchill Downs in Kentucky and Laurel Park in Maryland during the 2023 racing season. Even Saratoga Race Course has an unusual number of fatalities, enough to draw the ire of PETA and other animal rights groups.

What the Data Shows

In 2009, the Equine Injury Database was created. Since then, the database has been tracking horse fatalities all over the country. Since the database can be formatted to provide data on fatalities by racing surface, some important data came to light. It turns out that fatalities have been significantly lower by percentage at tracks where artificial surfaces are being used.

While the data supports artificial surfaces, some prominent horsemen and veterinarians are against such surfaces. They report that while fatalities might be down, soft-tissue injuries are higher due to artificial surfaces. NYRA has ordered this study so they can make future decisions based on facts.

The study is expected to take place over the coming months will results and recommendations coming later in the year.